Artificial foot



H. F. SMITH ARTIFICIAL FOOT March 5, 1929.

Filed Oct. 25, 1926 INVENTOR Patented Mar. 5 1929.

- urrn stares HAROLD FLEMING SMITH, or minimal, CALIFORNIA.

ARTIFICIAL room.

Application filed October25, 1926. SerialN'o. 143,936.

In artificial limbs heretofore in use, it was customary to provide a felt tip on'the end of the foot which would enable the wearer to bend that portion, simulating the action of the natural foot. This felt tip had no resilience and after it had been worn for a time, the toe portion would bend upwardly resulting in a marked shortening of the stride; that is, the stride would end at a point corresponding to the ball of the foot. This resulted in limp or a peculiar stride for the wearer of the limb.

An object of my invention is to provide an artificial foot in which a full stride can be taken.

Another object is to provide an artificial foot having a resilient toe portion.

A further object is to provide an artificial foot simulating the action of the natural foot.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined, detailed description, the appended claim, or in the use of my device.

1n the drawing I Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, sectional view of an artificial foot embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same on a reduced scale, and with the bottom pads removed.

Referring more particularly to the draw The numeral 1 indicates an artificial foot in the upper part of which is provided the usual felt pad 2 and rubber block 3. The leg portion t is secured to the foot 1 by countersunk bolts or leg screws 5. A felt block 6 his within the recess 7 in the bottom of the foot 1 and is held in positionby the usual screw 8.

A felt toe portion 9 is provided on the foot 1, andmy invention resides in providing a resiliency for the felt toe. A recess 10 1s formed in the toe 9 and in thewooden foot portion 1, and a laminated spring 11 is set therein. This spring is secured at the rear by suitable means such as the screw 12 or the like- The spring 11 is so arranged as that the tension of the spring 11 will have to be varied to suit the weight or stride of the wearer. This can be done by varying the number of leaves inthe laminated spring 11, or by varying the material of which the spring is made.

The wooden portion 1 comprises the ankle part of the foot and extends forwardly to about the instep. The felt toe 9 thus forms only thefront end of the foot and by reason of the spring 11 a more natural action is obtained that is, there is no tendency for the foot to bend at the instep and shorten the stride. i

Having'described my invention, I claim:

An artificial foot comprising a main wooden portion forming the ankle and in-. step parts of the foot, a yieldable toe secured to said wooden portion, said toehaw ing a recess formed therein, a laminated spring secured to said wooden portion adjacent the forward end thereof, and extending into said recess, said laminated spring extending substantially the entire length of the tee, a fibrous block fitting into said recess and a covering extending around said toe and securedto the main wooden portion.

HAROLD FLEMING SMITH. 

